Make no image....

[Danube]

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Does this include, certain art forms, photography, motion picture and hologram?

Obviously sculpture and cast idols wr already know are included as forbidden in this Commandment due to the biblical record.

What about the former. All modern evil influences (mediums) seem to include forms of idolatry or sin.
Magazines...celebs
Pornography...MTV awards etc and worse.
Live sports/live feeds
Film...
Art work with music
CCTV Big brother...

They all do at least carry intent.
Many would already agree, appeal to certain types or are needed for satan to corrupt Gods children?

 

[Windmillcharge]

Does this include,

Those who do not worshipp God or who worship their god(s)?

To whom is God speaking?
Who are you speaking to?

The important question is to ask what is the context?
That enables you to start to find an answer.

The context is the worship of God and the worship of false gods.
So anything that comes between you and your duty to God is, if it continues to hinder your worship/service, an idol.

 

[101G]

addressing the OP only,

what about that cross around one's neck with what suppose to be the Lord Jesus on it?

 

[Danube]

Those who do not worshipp God or who worship their god(s)?

To whom is God speaking?
Who are you speaking to?

The important question is to ask what is the context?
That enables you to start to find an answer.

The context is the worship of God and the worship of false gods.
So anything that comes between you and your duty to God is, if it continues to hinder your worship/service, an idol.

..."any likeness of anything"...
I mean as in the likeness you might see in identifying someone from a photo or even a painting.
The factor used to identify the likeness is there because a photo is a reproduction of a living thing that you intended to use because of it's likeness ie : family photos to remind you of a specific person or occassion they were photographed for etc..

 

[Jane_Doe22]

Again, intent is the big thing here.
Is intent to worship another thing?
Or is it a picture for some other purpose?

 

[Danube]

addressing the OP only,

what about that cross around one's neck with what suppose to be the Lord Jesus on it?

Same reasons.
I do not wear a cross, only because I have never thought it neccessary, however it could be seen as an idol of worship (?) but I really would like others opinions as to how they interpret this commandment for today or to be cautious by applying the Holy Spirit for guidance of limitation (where should we draw the line?). I simply do not know even though I wouldn't be suprised to learn any or all "likeness"

 

[Danube]

Again, intent is the big thing here.
Is intent to worship another thing?
Or is it a picture for some other purpose?

As a generalisation... (I am curious as to the limitations of what people percieve is a likeness).
A likeness can even be a clone, a replica, mannequin etc
Madam Tussauds make wax likeness of the modern cultural "idol" of an actor ...
Greek lifelike sculptures, facial reconstruction using the skull, there could be hundreds of examples out there.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

As a generalisation... (I am curious as to the limitations of what people percieve is a likeness).
A likeness can even be a clone, a replica, mannequin etc
Madam Tussauds make wax likeness of the modern cultural "idol" as an actor ...

Again: it's all about intent. Anything can be an idol if your worship it. But very very few things are automatically idols when there's no worshipping.

 

[Danube]

What about If you keep sentimental or put emotional value on a very old photo of say your great great grandmother/grandad, could this be seen as a form of worship (I am purposely stretching it here...) because we know we are to honor our parents but not to put them greater than God or hold them in higher esteem than the Lord.

 

[Jane_Doe22]

If you keep sentimental or put emotional value on a very old photo of say your great great grandmother/grandad, could this be seen as a form of worship (I am purposely stretching it here...) because we know we are to honor our parents but not put them greater than God.

Why the purposeful stretch?
If someone is putting their grandma higher then God, that is a problem.
But if not, then there's not a problem.

 

[Danube]

Why the purposeful stretch?
If someone is putting their grandma higher then God, that is a problem.
But if not, then there's not a problem.

Yes. I understand that part thanks. That covers the second part addressing bowing down to it and making it higher than God.

What about the fact of something clearly having a likeness, just by itself, like it says in the first sentences?
Like for example, someone worships a block of concrete (?) it doesnt have any likeness of anything in particular, unless it has been shaped to define a likeness to something like a dolphin or an elephant but is not neccessarily made to be worshipped.


Edit: The purpose of stretching that to include family photos is because we place them often high on the wall (example) and so give reverence where perhaps none is due. I dont know because I might need a solid definition of "worship" or what can be percieved AS worshiping.

 

[Windmillcharge]

..."any likeness of anything"...
I mean as in the likeness you might see in identifying someone from a photo or even a painting.
The factor used to identify the likeness is there because a photo is a reproduction of a living thing that you intended to use because of it's likeness ie : family photos to remind you of a specific person or occassion they were photographed for etc..

How does a picture of a beautiful scene distract you from the worship of God?
How does having a model of an aircraft or a ship or a car etc distract you from the worship of God.

The command is not to make something that you worship.
If you are obcessed by a pop or film star and spent all day dreaming of that person or spent ever moment you could playing a computer game they would be idols, things that stopped you from the service and worship of God.

There are no commands in the bible saying don't make beutifull pictures or statues etc

I think you need to define just what worship is.

 

[Danube]

1. synonyms: revere, reverence, venerate, pay homage to, honour, adore,praise, pray to, bow down before, glorify, exalt, extol;
   be devoted to, dote on, love, hold dear, cherish, treasure, admire,esteem, adulate, idolize, deify,hero-worship, lionize, have a high regard for, hold in high regard, hold in esteem, hold in awe, look up to;
   informalbe wild about, put on a pedestal;
   archaicmagnify;
   rarelaud
   "they do not worship pagan gods"

synonyms: reverence, revering, worshipping,veneration, venerating,adoration, adoring, -olatry,devotion, praise, thanksgiving,praising, praying to, glorification,glorifying, glory, exaltation,exalting, extolment, extolling,homage, respect, honour,honouring, esteem;
dulia, latria;
rarelaudation, magnification
"the new Church rejected the worship of saints and relics"

A likeness is a likeness though, a statue or a engravened coin ...its the detail of the likeness that is the measure/judge of an accurate (or praise given?):
Photo, sculpture, painting etc etc...

 

[Danube]

How does a picture of a beautiful scene distract you from the worship of God?
How does having a model of an aircraft or a ship or a car etc distract you from the worship of God.

The command is not to make something that you worship.
If you are obcessed by a pop or film star and spent all day dreaming of that person or spent ever moment you could playing a computer game they would be idols, things that stopped you from the service and worship of God.

There are no commands in the bible saying don't make beutifull pictures or statues etc

I think you need to define just what worship is.

I shouldn't effect your worship to God but maybe people just simply do not like what they see is already there made by God? Having to replicate what can already be seen or appreciated with the eye might even take some of the wonder away from just enjoying it for what it is, instead its custom to photoshop and manipulate Gods works?
Also I honestly am seeing a link here to the degeneracy of society coinciding with mediums that rely heavily on the "accuracy" or "detail" of all the likeness mentioned in the commandment. Art, TV & film ..3D cinema....life "like" robotics etc...every kid seems to have a smartphone with a high MP capture and internet.... Helpful to some, intrusive to others (how else can a corrupting influence creep into a minors privacy?).

 

[Windmillcharge]

Having to replicate what can already be seen or appreciated with the eye might even take some of the wonder away from just enjoying it for what it is

I honestly am seeing a link here to the degeneracy of society coinciding with mediums that rely heavily on the "accuracy" or "detail" of all the likeness mentioned in the commandmen[/QUOTE]

The command is not to make an image that is worshipped.

As I have already said that image does not have to be a physical image.

As for society, it is not degenerating because of the accuracy of its pictures etc, but it is degenerating because of its rejection of God and his moral standards.

 

[CoreIssue]

Exodus 20:4-5 New International Version (NIV)
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them;

 

[Jay Ross]

When one places oneself at the centre of their lives, they are in fact involved in idolatrous worship of self.

An easy trap to fall into, which results in turning away from God.

Shalom

 

[BreadOfLife]

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Does this include, certain art forms, photography, motion picture and hologram?

Obviously sculpture and cast idols wr already know are included as forbidden in this Commandment due to the biblical record.

What about the former. All modern evil influences (mediums) seem to include forms of idolatry or sin.
Magazines...celebs
Pornography...MTV awards etc and worse.
Live sports/live feeds
Film...
Art work with music
CCTV Big brother...

They all do at least carry intent.
Many would already agree, appeal to certain types or are needed for satan to corrupt Gods children?

This is one of the most misunderstood and abused passages of Scripture by Fundamentalist Christians.

When read in CONTEXT – it is abundantly clear that this commandment is NOT against the creation of images – but the WORSHIP pf them as gods.
If it were simply against the CREATION of images – then God Himself broke His own Commandment when He commanded Moses to make Two GOLDEN CHERUBIM to lace on top of the Ark (Exod. 25:18).

He would have also violated His own rule when He commanded Moses to create a Bronze Serpent and place it on a pole (Num. 21:8).

Case CLOSED.

 

[CoreIssue]

This is one of the most misunderstood and abused passages of Scripture by Fundamentalist Christians.

When read in CONTEXT – it is abundantly clear that this commandment is NOT against the creation of images – but the WORSHIP pf them as gods.
If it were simply against the CREATION of images – then God Himself broke His own Commandment when He commanded Moses to make Two GOLDEN CHERUBIM to lace on top of the Ark (Exod. 25:18).

He would have also violated His own rule when He commanded Moses to create a Bronze Serpent and place it on a pole (Num. 21:8).

Case CLOSED.

Let's look at the meaning of worship.

Definition

1. to bow down
   1. (Qal) to bow down
   2. (Hiphil) to depress (fig)
   3. (Hithpael)
      1. to bow down, prostrate oneself 1c
   4. before superior in homage 1c
   5. before God in worship 1c
   6. before false gods 1c
   7. before angel

Catholics bow down pray statues of Mary's and Saints.

That is worship.

They kiss images and pray to necklaces and crucifixes.

That is worship.

 

[Danube]

What none of you have mentioned though is why would a commandment be repeated then.

God already commanded to have NO OTHER GODS before me.
So if the commandment was soley about worship it would already be covered by having no other Gods.
Interestingly it clearly states "make no graven images" which to me might suggest the actual production is the key to this commandment.

Ask yourself this:

Would God be ok with some one building a huge Golden calf not for worship, just because it might look good?

You cannot idolize or worship a Golden calf unless it has already been made ir produced.

Same with graven images, what use to God is our paintings or sculptures or photos when they are automatically a fake or poor representation of something already found in the earth anyway?

You could never build an ark using photos of planks of wood so what is it you actually believe you are looking at when viewing an image of a tree?